Anne Marie Hopkins' Obituary
Anne Marie Hopkins, 86, passed away peacefully on August 1, 2024. She was the wife of the late Leonard F Hopkins, who passed away in 2003.
Anne Marie was born in London, England on August 8, 1937, she was daughter to the late Sheila Harvey who was also from England. She was a young girl growing up during World War 2, and had many stories to share of surviving the London Blitz, when London suffered 8 months of a bombing campaign by Germany.
Born to a single mother and growing up in an orphanage, Anne Marie never let her humble beginnings limit her. At the age of 18, she started modeling and traveling around Europe. Becoming a young woman in the decade where women were finding their voice in a big way and expressing themselves in society, Anne Marie had no problem modeling a bikini exiting a British Airways flight at the start of the 60s. She lived and breathed “showbiz”, and moved to the South of France, to dance and follow her passion. As fate would have it, she met the love of her life, a decorated American sailor in the Navy, in 1964. As she liked to say, she and the Beatles travelled to America together in 1964 to follow her heart.
Once in America, she married the love of her life in 1965 and together they moved to Salem, NH. Anne Marie and Leonard had three children and four grandchildren. Anne Marie was a dedicated member to Mary Queen of Peace Church, and an active member of the Salem, NH community. She worked for the Salem school district for two decades, where she was beloved by many.
Anne Marie could teach us all a lot about life. To follow your dreams, to beat to your own drum, and to never take life too seriously. Up until her final days she still had her great sense of humor and a love of life. As Anne Marie would so often say, “love makes the world go around”, “stop and smell the roses”, and "it’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice”. We hope all who loved her can continue her legacy in that same spirit. Anne Marie is predeceased by her husband, Leonard F Hopkins. She is survived by her son, Leonard Hopkins of Salem, NH, Anne Preston of Londonderry, NH, and Tricia Snow of Salem, NH. She also leaves behind four grandchildren, Amanda and Oliver Preston and Sydney and Justin Snow, as well as many nieces and nephews. Along with her beloved sister Christina Bayliss of England, she was the sister to the late Kevin Ward who was also from England.
Relatives and friends are invited to call on Monday, August 5th, 2024 from 10:00 - 10:45 a.m. in Mary Queen of Peace Church, 200 Lawrence Road, Salem, NH. Her funeral mass will be celebrated following the wake at 11:00 a.m. in the Church. Burial will follow in the Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Lawrence, MA. Arrangements are under the direction of the John Breen Memorial Funeral Home, Inc., 35 Merrimack Street, No. Andover, MA. For online condolences and other information please visit us at www.breenfuneralhome.com.
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